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WASA starts
disconnection

The Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) has started the disconnection of properties that are illegally connected to its pipeline network.

A statement from WASA yesterday said this action followed the failure of persons/entities with illegal connections to take advantage of the amnesty programme offered by the utility during the period July to September 2012.

WASA stated that as a result of this exercise, a total of 2,088 new accounts were established and in some instances, the users' account status regularised, as in the case of people with unregistered swimming pools and VAT-registered businesses with domestic classification.

The following categorisations of unauthorised users were targeted under the amnesty programme and are now the focus of the disconnection drive:

• Squatters and new housing developments;

• Unauthorised house extensions;

• Disconnected customers who have reconnected themselves;

• People with water service connections to stand pipes;

• People who receive water via hoses.

WASA said it has established a database of persons/entities with unauthorised access to its pipeline network and this will be used to ensure the effectiveness of the disconnection drive.

During the period of the amnesty, WASA said it had warned that people who failed to take advantage of the programme faced the possibility of disconnection as well as the imposition of penalties and any other legal recourse available to the authority under the Water and Sewerage Act.

WASA stated that the improper practice of illegal connections directly contribute to the authority's high level of Unaccounted For Water (UFW), that is, supplies lost through leakage and other non-revenue sources (theft) estimated at between 40 to 50 per cent of total daily production.

WASA added that another consequence of illegal connections was that it had an adverse effect on the authority's ability to adequately service its paying customers.

WASA is also calling on people with knowledge of illegal water service connections to contact the authority.